About the Awards
Three innovation award trophies - a spiral design, with a star on top.
Winners receive a prize of US$1,500, a trophy, a certificate, and publicity through EIFL’s website and wide network of contacts.

Seventeen exciting innovation award calls launched since 2011

The EIFL Public Library Innovation Awards are open to all public and community libraries in developing and transition countries. The calls highlight important community development issues and recognize innovative uses of digital technology to improve people’s lives.

Winners receive a prize of US$1,500, a trophy, a certificate, and publicity through EIFL’s website and wide network of contacts.

Since 2011 EIFL has completed 17 innovation award calls and announced the names of 61 winners in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The winners of the most recent EIFL Public Library Innovation Award call (2023), for Public libraries addressing one of three pressing global issues, were announced in January 2024.

In 2021 we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the awards with a special feature highlighting a selection of winners over the years. See the feature in our 2021 Annual Report  or download the brochure

Meet the winners of past awards

Public libraries promoting safety online

Public libraries responding to COVID-19

Public libraries protecting the environment / supporting climate action

Public libraries contributing to community economic wellbeing

Public libraries contributing to community health

Public libraries contributing to digital and social inclusion

Public libraries contributing to open government

Public libraries empowering women and girls

Creative use of ICT in public libraries 

Public libraries contributing to education 

Public libraries contributing to literacy